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  Axel’s Promise

  Inferno’s Clutch MC Book 4

  E.C. Land

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Inferno’s Clutch MC

  Trigger Warning

  Playlist

  Broken Promises

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Epilogue

  Family Connections

  Available Now

  Available on Audible

  Coming Soon

  Social Media

  Author’s Note

  Axel’s Promise

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons, organizations, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.

  Axel’s Promise. Copyright © 2020 by E.C. Land. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in articles or reviews. For information, contact E.C. Land.

  Cover Design by Charli Childs, Cosmic Letterz Cover Design

  Editing by Kim Lubbers

  Formatting by E.C. Land

  Proofreading by Jackie Ziegler

  Created with Vellum

  To those who know what it feels like to lose your other half. The pain may be deep but there will always be a way to heal with the promise of another day.

  Acknowledgments

  My Family – To my husband for always standing next to me and supporting me through out anything and everything. Sure, I annoy him, regardless he’s always there for me to lean on when I need to. Him and my children are constantly inspiring me to keep going and put up with my ramblings. Especially my husband since some things aren’t for children’s ears. To my youngest with the imagination that’s out there, if not for you I don’t know what I’d do to find my inner Bart. To my middle kid she’s my mini me through and through. No matter what she’s always got some sarcastic remark to throw and I end up using it as inspiration. To my oldest, thank you for just being you and making awesome old bay fries to munch on as I write.

  My Betas – You guys rock! Thank you all for being the first to read the stories as they come alive. It means the world to me. Especially when you all start to get mad. That’s when I know I’m doing something right. And in doing so pushing me to keep going with all the different plots that form in my head. I’m thankful to you all for being ready and willing to read and give your input.

  My Knox Publishing People – If it wasn’t for you all being helpful and encouraging when I need it, I don’t know what I’d do without you all. You’re all wonderful in your own right and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The biggest thing I’ve got to say I’m thankful for most, is the fact I’m able to be around those who understand the way my mind works. Each and every one of you have earned a special place in my life, one way or another.

  Liz – My sister from another mister, my best friend and Publisher/Boss. You’re my go to when I need it. If not for you, I don’t know if I’d ever be where I am today with my writing. Thank you for always pushing me and encouraging me.

  Diane – You’re my sanity. Without you taking everything on for me, I would not be able to focus the way I do on my writing. Thank you for everything you do. You’re not just my PA, you’re my friend and I couldn’t ask for a better friend than you. Thank you for helping me so much with translations.

  Kim and Jackie – I know I’m a pain in the rear a lot of times for you guys; however, you both put up with me regardless. Thank you both for everything you do and for taking on all of my work. I love the fact I work with you both on each of them. Also, the fact when it comes to something I miss, you help me understand how to correct it, so it doesn’t happen again.

  Inferno’s Clutch MC

  President – Chains – Ol’ lady – Tiny (Sloane)

  Vice President – Tyres

  SAA – Breaker – Ol’ Lady – Spitfire (Nora)

  Road Captain – Brake

  Enforcer – Pitch Black

  Former Prez – Ryder – Ol’ lady – Brielle

  (Children – Micah, Marcus, & Lucy)

  Medic – Pipe

  Hacker – Fuse

  Former Road Captain – Fury – Ol’ Lady – Ela

  (Children – Raven and Pitch Black)

  Treasurer – Axel – Ol’ Lady – Faith

  (Children – Alec)

  Member – Speed

  Member – Throttle

  Member – Crash

  Member – Pedal

  Member – Spark

  Member – Frame

  Member – Lynch

  Prospect – Shock

  Prospect – Rig

  Prospect – Bender

  Prospect – Steel

  Trigger Warning

  This content is intended for mature audiences only. It contains material that may be viewed as offensive to some readers, including graphic language, dangerous and sexual situations, murder, rape, and extreme violence.

  Proceed with caution. This book does entail several scenes that may very well be a trigger to some.

  Also, tissues are a must with other scenes.

  Not for the faint at heart.

  If you don’t like violence and cannot handle certain subjects, then this is not a book you’ll want to read.

  Playlist

  Love the Heartless – Jelly Roll

  My Pain – Adam Calhoun

  Remember Everything – Savannah Dexter

  Coming Home – OverTime

  Sidewayz – Crucifix

  Sinderella – Savannah Dexter

  Mindfield – Crucifix

  River – DJ Winn(feat. Struggle Jennings & Hard Target)

  Tailgate Town – Granger Smith

  Love Conquers All – Struggle Jennings

  Devil’s Song – Hard Target & Wess Nyle

  Nothing Left At All – Jelly Roll

  Broken Promises

  Promises are simple words

  But hold more weight than most

  A promise is meant to be honored

  Not broken like a piece of glass

  Nor shattered into a million pieces

  Promises are supposed to be cherished

  As the weight of them hold true

  It only takes a small act to tear it apart

  Promises aren’t meant to be broken

  Doesn’t matter what it is

  They’re supposed to be kept

  Words spoken from one to another

  Yet they’re more than something so simple

  They’re filled with trust

  That if broken is lost and never to be mended.

  Broken promises all around

  It’s how you handle them from here on out

  In whether another can be made.

  ~ E.C. Land

  Prologue

  Axel

  Age 20

  “Come on, Faith,” I mutter, wanting to get a move on it. I swear the woman is always running behind and would lose her head if it wasn’t attached to her body. If I didn’t love her so damn much, I would have strangled her more than once by now.

  “I’m coming, Alex. I just had to double check we had everything,” Faith calls out from the top of the stairs, using my name rather than my road name. As long as I’ve been with her, the only time she ever us
es Axel is when we’re around my brothers.

  “Well, hurry the fuck up,” I growl, glaring at the stairs as I hear her stomping down them.

  Finally.

  “What’s crawled up your butt and died?” Faith huffs, crossing her arms across her chest, drawing my attention there as she stops on the last step.

  Fuck me.

  At nineteen my woman is all attitude with the looks to go with it. Thin long legs to die for with an ample amount of tits on top. Those babies are part of the reason I married her the moment she turned eighteen.

  Being a year younger than me I had to wait, although I knew she was it for me. Knew it the first day I met her when her parents moved in next door to my dad’s house. Faith got out of the car, glanced in my direction, and smiled with the most radiant smile I’d ever seen. I’ll never forget what she did after that. Not scared or even shy she came straight to where my dad and I were working on my motorcycle and introduced herself. “Hi, I’m Faith, your new neighbor.”

  I’d been a goner from that day on. Since, at the time, I had still been in school, I gave Faith a ride every day and brought her home before heading to work at the Inferno’s Clutch MC garage. Now she’s mine completely and I’m a member of the Inferno’s Clutch MC same as my dad.

  “Ma fée, I suggest you quit while you’re ahead with your attitude,” I grumble, as much as I love my woman, she can irritate me beyond belief with constantly being late. I should have learned long before now if I needed to be somewhere on time to tell her to be ready two hours ahead of schedule.

  Way I see it, you’re late if you’re on time and on time when you’re early. It’s what my mom ingrained in me before she passed away due to breast cancer.

  “Alex, I don’t have an attitude. What I have is a problem with you constantly yelling while I’m in the process of getting ready,” Faith snaps.

  “Faith, ma fée, love you but we’re running late and I’m not about to miss this shit,” I inform her, because I didn’t want to miss this. It was family night at the clubhouse, and it was also my woman’s birthday so what she doesn’t know is, it’s a surprise party for her, Ela had put it together for her at my request.

  “I get it and was nearly ready. Why don’t you go on ahead of me and I’ll be there in thirty minutes,” she offers.

  Groaning, I didn’t want to do that.

  “Babe, just hurry up and finish getting ready,” I mutter, lifting my hand to swipe it over my face.

  “Okay, honey. I’ll make it quick,” she murmurs, with a smile.

  Fuckin’ hell. I love this woman even though she drives me insane.

  “Alright,” I grumble. Turning on my heel, I step outside and shoot a text off to my brothers to let them know we’re running late.

  Closing my phone, I lean against the banister of our home, a home I grew up in and would one day raise our kids in.

  I was in my head thinking about the day Faith and I had our first kid when I heard the squeal of tires come to a halt in front of my house.

  Fuck.

  The rat-a-tat-tat of the semi-automatic weapon resounds through the early night as they shoot in my direction. Body jerking as I fall to the ground. Pain radiating throughout my body.

  “This is our territory motherfucker; you and those Inferno pussies need to get the fuck out. This is your final warning,” one of the men in the car shouts before they take off.

  Motherfuckin’ Grave Runners. They’d become erratic over the past several months trying to wage a war to get us to give up our territory. Like that shit was going to happen.

  “Alex,” Faith screams my name as the door flies open and she drops to her knees next to me. “Oh God, honey, hang on, help is on the way,” she cries putting the phone to her ear. “Yes, I need an ambulance at . . .” I stop listening to her as my head gets fuzzy and everything grows dark.

  This isn’t how I wanted the night to go or the course of my life to change.

  Faith

  “Please tell me why you’re doing this?” I cry.

  It’s been two weeks since Alex was shot and now he’s tellin’ me he wants me gone. He was done. I was so scared I’d lost him that night when he’d closed his eyes and I couldn’t get him to reopen them. God, why couldn’t I just be ready when he asked. If it wasn’t for me making us late, he wouldn’t have been hurt.

  “Because I fuckin’ am, Faith. Now pack your shit and get the hell out of here. I’m done. When I get home your ass better not be there,” Alex states harshly, from where he laid in the hospital bed. He was supposed to be coming home today. Home to me.

  Why is he doing this?

  I thought he loved me.

  “Alex, please, I don’t understand . . .”

  “Nothing to understand but the fact, I’m done. Don’t love you and I want out,” he snarls interrupting me.

  Oh God.

  I’m going to be sick.

  It doesn’t help my stomach was already not doing that great. Hasn’t been for the past three weeks. All due to morning sickness. It was the reason I’d made us late that night. I was throwing up and didn’t want him to know. Not yet at least. I planned to tell him that night at the party he thought I didn’t know about.

  Now he wants me gone and he doesn’t even know about the child I’m carrying.

  “Alex, please,” I beg, reaching out for his hand.

  “No, Faith.” Snatching his hand away from mine, he glares at me. “Get the fuck out of here. Don’t want to see your face anymore.”

  “But we promised each other forever,” I whisper, tears pouring down my cheeks. We’d been together from the moment I moved in next door and when my parents moved yet again, I stayed to be with Alex. He’s the love of my life and I didn’t want to be anywhere else but with him.

  My parents being who they are, gave their stamp of approval.

  “Promises are meant to be broken,” Alex growls vehemently.

  Nodding I step back, mutely, as his words ring in my head. “Okay, Alex. You want me gone fine, I won’t be there when you get home and when you come to your senses don’t call me.”

  My heart feels as if it were being shredded into a million pieces as I turn on my heel leaving behind the only man who I’ll ever be able to love. But now, I have a baby coming who needs me to stay strong.

  Chapter One

  Faith

  Present Day

  Four Years later

  “Jesus H. Christ, Lyrica, why did you teach him that?” I complain as my three-year-old son, Alec, squeals at the top of his longs calling my best friend, Lyrica, Ly–Ly.

  “What are you talking about, Fay?” Lyrica giggles as she picks Alec up.

  “You know what I mean. That high pitch squeal which is ear piercing,” I mutter, turning to get ready for work. Work at a place I seriously hated. Okay so I didn’t hate it. Just the part where men leered at me constantly and threw lewd comments in my direction.

  For the past several years, since moving from Louisiana to North Carolina to be closer to my parents before they died in a car accident, I’ve lived with my best friend who has been a God send with helping me with Alec.

  “Babe, what can I say, he likes to be loud and heard,” Lyrica laughs as she tickles my son.

  Alec squeals again as he doubles over giggling, like only he could. Even when my heart aches for his daddy and wishing things were different, I can see Alex shining through Alec’s eyes. The way he resembles his dad is uncanny.

  Shaking my head of thoughts of Alex, I leave the two of them playing so that I can go prepare for work. I put my hair in a messy bun on top of my head and apply my makeup heavily. Being that I’m a stripper and hating this is where my life has led me. I can’t say I don’t enjoy the money I make. I’ve been the top dancer at Double Trouble from the first week I started, after Alec was born. Before that the owner, Lawson Landers, put me behind the bar so that while I was pregnant no one would be able to touch me.

  Lawson easily became a friend of mine and knew I hated h
aving to dance at his club but understood why I did. He tried to offer me a management position with a raise, but I didn’t want to feel like he was showing favoritism. So, he did the only thing he could to make it easier for me to take care of Alec. Put me as the top dancer and changed some things around at his club.

  This also meant he started offering benefits to the girls who work for him on the condition they had a monthly drug, pregnancy, and STD test done.

  Why he did all this I’ll never know but I’m grateful to him, all the same.

  Lawson didn’t condone the dancers hooking up with customers after hours when it affects his business. Meaning if they wanted to make extra, they went through their boss. I had never done this. I can’t stomach the thought of anyone touching me. It’s bad enough I endure the lap dances.

  Again, Lawson tried to tell me I didn’t have to, but it’s a requirement for his girls to give at least one lap dance a night. I refused to be seen as anything but an equal to the other girls.

  My phone rings and I glance down at the screen.

  Unknown Number.

  Sighing I answer putting the phone on speaker, “Hello.”

  Nothing but silence comes through the line. Shaking my head, I end the call and go back to finishing getting ready, by putting my artic melt wig on and securing it into place. I love the colors in it. Plus, the name of it goes great with my stage name, Glacier. Donna, our DJ, gave me the name when I first started, and it stuck.